शूलपाणिं महात्मानमश्वमेधफलं लभेत् । कोटितीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
By worshipping the great-souled wielder of the trident, one obtains the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice; by bathing at the Koṭitīrtha, a person gains the merit equal to giving a thousand cows.
अथ वामनकं गत्वा त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् । तत्र विष्णुपदे स्नात्वा समभ्यर्च्य च वामनम्
Or, by going to Vāmanaka, renowned in the three worlds, and there bathing at the foot of Viṣṇu and duly worshipping Vāmana—
सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा विष्णुलोकमवाप्नुयात् । कुलंपुने नरः स्नात्वा पुनाति स्वकुलं नरः
—with all sins cleansed from the heart, one attains the world of Viṣṇu; and by bathing there, a person purifies his entire lineage.
पवनस्य ह्रदं गत्वा मरुतां तीर्थमुत्तमम् । तत्र स्नात्वा नरव्याघ्र वायुलोके महीयते
By going to the lake of Pavanā and to the supreme ford of the Maruts, and bathing there, O tiger among men, one is honored in the world of the Wind-god.
अमराणां ह्रदे स्नात्वा समभ्यर्च्यामराधिपम् । अमराणां प्रभावेण स्वर्गलोके महीयते
By bathing in the lake of the immortals and worshipping the lord of the immortals, through the power of the immortals, one is honored in the heavenly world.
शालिहोत्रस्य राजेंद्र शालिसूर्ये यथाविधि । स्नात्वा नरवरश्रेष्ठ गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
At the ford of Śālihotra, O king, and at Śālisūrya, by bathing there according to the proper rite, O best of men, one obtains the merit equal to giving a thousand cows.
श्रीकुंजं च सरस्वत्यां तीर्थं भरतसत्तम । तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन्नग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत्
And at Śrīkuñja, the sacred place on the Sarasvatī, O best of the Bharatas, by bathing there, O king, a person gains the fruit of an Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.
ततो नैमिषिकुंजं च समासाद्य सुदुर्लभम् । ऋषयः किल राजेंद्र नैमिषेयास्तपोधनाः
Then, reaching the Naimiṣa grove, which is very difficult to attain, the sages of Naimiṣa, rich in austerity, O king—
तीर्थयात्रां पुरस्कृत्य कुरुक्षेत्रे गताः पुरा । ततः कुंजः सरस्वत्यां कृतो भरतसत्तम
—once undertook a pilgrimage and went to Kurukṣetra; from that, O best of the Bharatas, the grove on the Sarasvatī was established.
ऋषीणामवकाशः स्याद्यथा तुष्टिकरो महान् । तस्मिन्कुंजे नरः स्नात्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
That grove became a place for the sages, greatly satisfying; by bathing in that grove, one obtains the merit equal to giving a thousand cows.
नारद उवाच-। ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ कन्यातीर्थमनुत्तमम् । कन्यातीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा अग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत्
Nārada said: Then, O knower of dharma, one should go to the excellent Kanyā-tīrtha; by bathing at Kanyā-tīrtha, a person obtains the fruit of an Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.
ततो गच्छेन्नरव्याघ्र ब्रह्मणः स्थानमुत्तमम् । तत्र वर्णावरः स्नात्वा ब्राह्मण्यं लभते नरः
Then, O tiger among men, one should go to the supreme place of Brahmā; there, by bathing, a person of any class attains the state of a Brāhmaṇa.
ब्राह्मणस्तु विशुद्धात्मा गच्छेत परमां गतिम् । ततो गच्छेन्नरव्याघ्र सोमतीर्थमनुत्तमम्
A Brāhmaṇa, with a purified heart, attains the highest state; then, O tiger among men, one should go to the excellent Soma-tīrtha.
तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन्सोमलोकमवाप्नुयात् । सप्तसारस्वतं तीर्थं ततो गच्छेन्नराधिप
By bathing there, O king, a person attains the world of Soma; then, O lord of men, one should go to the Saptasārasvata ford.
यत्र मंकणकः सिद्धो ब्रह्मर्षिर्लोकविश्रुतः । पुरा मंकणको राजन्कुशाग्रेणेति विश्रुतम्
There, the accomplished sage Maṅkaṇaka, renowned among the worlds, once, it is said, pierced his hand with a blade of kuśa grass.
क्षतः किल करे राजन्तस्य शाकरसोऽस्रवत् । स वै शाकरसं दृष्ट्वा हर्षाविष्टो महातपाः
From his hand, O king, sap of śāka flowed; seeing that sap, the great ascetic was filled with joy.
ननर्त किल विप्रर्षिर्विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनः । ततस्तस्मिन्प्रनृत्ते वै स्थावरं जंगमं च यत्
Then, the Brāhmaṇa sage, his eyes wide with wonder, began to dance; and as he danced, all that was moving and unmoving—
प्रनृत्तमुभयं वीर तेजसा तस्य मोहितम् । ब्रह्मादिभिस्ततो देवैर्ऋषिभिश्च तपोधनैः
—danced as well, O hero, bewildered by his energy; then, by Brahmā and the other gods, and by the sages rich in austerity—
विज्ञप्तो वै ऋषेरर्थे महादेवो नराधिप । नायं नृत्येद्यथा देव तथा त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि
O king, Mahadeva was requested by the sage for a purpose; you should act as the god does, and not dance here.
ततो देवो मुनिं दृष्ट्वा हर्षाविष्टेन चेतसा । नृत्यंतमब्रवीच्चैनं स्थिराणां हितकाम्यया
Then, seeing the sage, the god spoke to him with a mind filled with joy, desiring the welfare of the steadfast.
अहो महर्षे धर्मज्ञ किमर्थं नृत्यते भवान् । हर्षस्थानं किमर्थं वा तवाद्य मुनिपुंगव
O great sage, knower of dharma, for what reason are you dancing? What is the cause of your joy today, O foremost among sages?
ऋषिरुवाच-। तपस्विनो धर्म्मपथस्थितस्य द्विजसत्तम । किं न पश्यसि मे ब्रह्मन्क्षताच्छाकरसं सृतम्
The sage said: O best of twice-born, O Brahman, do you not see the stream of ashes flowing from my body, as I stand on the path of dharma in asceticism?
यं दृष्ट्वा संप्रनृत्तोऽहं हर्षेण महता वृतः । तं प्रहस्याब्रवीद्देव ऋषिं रागेण मोहितम्
Seeing that, I began to dance, overwhelmed with great joy; the god, smiling, spoke to the sage, who was captivated by passion.
अहं तु विस्मयं विप्र न गच्छामीह पश्य माम् । एवमुक्त्वा नरश्रेष्ठ महादेवेन वै तदा
But I do not feel wonder, O Brahman; look at me here. Having spoken thus, O best of men, Mahadeva then—
अंगुल्यग्रेण राजेंद्र स्वांगुष्ठस्ताडितोऽनघ । तस्य भस्मक्षताद्राजन्निःसृतं हिमसंनिभम्
With the tip of his finger, O sinless king, he struck his own thumb; from it, ashes flowed out, white as snow.
यं दृष्ट्वा व्रीडितो राजन्स मुनिः पादयोर्गतः । नान्यं देवादहं मन्ये रुद्रात्परतरं महत्
Seeing that, the sage became ashamed, O king, and fell at the god's feet; I do not consider anyone greater than Rudra among the gods.
सुरासुरस्य जगतो गतिस्त्वमसि शूलधृक् । त्वया सृष्टमिदं विश्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्
O wielder of the trident, you are the refuge of gods, demons, and the world; by you this universe, the three worlds with all that moves and is still, has been created.
त्वामेव भगवन्सर्वे प्रविशंति युगक्षये । देवैरपि न शक्यस्त्वं परिज्ञातुं कुतो मया
At the end of the age, O Lord, all enter into you; even the gods cannot fully know you, so how could I?
त्वयि सर्वेश दृश्यंते सुराः शक्रादयोऽनघ । सर्वस्त्वमसि लोकानां कर्ता कारयितान्वहम्
In you, O Lord of all, the gods such as Indra are seen; you are the creator and the constant maker of all worlds.
त्वत्प्रसादात्सुराः सर्वे मोदंतीहाकुतोभयाः । एवं स्तुत्वा महादेवं स ऋषिः प्रणतोऽब्रवीत्
By your grace, all the gods rejoice here, free from fear; thus, having praised Mahadeva, the sage spoke, bowing.